Citing Pueblo’s abrupt transition from coal to gas, Vincent Carroll is justifiably concerned about the economic impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.

The EPA is now taking comments on how states can reach the goal of 30 percent reduction of CO2 emissions from power plants by 2030. In its draft proposal, the EPA has not offered the market-based solution of a state carbon tax. A study by Regional Economic Models, Inc. found that a carbon tax in California would increase GDP and add hundreds of thousands of jobs while significantly reducing CO2 emissions, provided the revenue is returned to the public, either as tax cuts or direct payments. Other states would achieve similar benefits. If the EPA would allow for a state revenue-neutral carbon tax as an option to reach its goals, states would achieve even deeper cuts in their CO2 emissions while strengthening their economies.

Susan Secord, Boulder

This letter was published in the Aug. 9 edition.

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